Fuel treating system



March 11, 1941. J. A. ERICKSON FUEL TREATING SYSTEM Filed Dec.` 6, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 lvm gummi/kw JOHN A. ERlGKsoN March 11, 1941 J. A. ERICKSON FUEL TREATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 6, 1957 2-SheetsSheet 2 JOHN A. ERICKSON Patented Mar. l1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel treating systems and more particularly to a system by which heavy oil or wax is sprayed on coal for dustprooiing the same.

When extremely heavy oil or wax is sprayed on coal for dustproofing purposes, the problems of starting the system in operation and preventing the sprayed material from congealing or solidifying on equipment adjacent the point of application heretofore lhave not been solved economically. The present invention in general o'vercomes the above difficulties by providing a conduit in which is circulated hot oil to warm the 15 supply of spraying material and which conduit is in heat exchanging relation with all parts of the equipment through which the spraying material passes or with which it comes in contact.

An object of the invention is to provide a sys- 20 tem for spraying fuels for dustproong with a heavy hydrocarbon or the like, wherein the temperature of the equipment is elevated by circulating of a iluid in a closed system adjacent the parts of the equipment.

Another object is to conduct the spraying material in a closed system to the spraying nozzles.

A further object of the invention is to heat the spraying hoods provided at the point of spraying.

'I'hese and other objects will be apparent from the following/specification when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the system comprising the invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the equipment for spraying coal at the end of a loading boom,

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the equipment for spraying coalon a horizontal conveyor, and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the equipment for spraying coal on an inclined chute.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the reference character I indicates a storage tank having connected thereto an outlet pipe 2. The outlet pipe 2 is connected 'to a pumping unit 3 having a strainer l, a pump 5 and a constant pressure valve 6. The constant pressure valve 3 is connected to the inlet side of the pump 5 by a pipe l. A pipe 8 connects the pumping unit 3 with the heating unit 9, which consists of a strainer I and a. heating device II. 'Ihe device II preferably is electrical, although some other source of heat may be employed. A pipe l2 is connected with the outlet of the heating unit 9 and returns to the inlet side of the pump 5. Tapped into the pipe I2 are a plurality of pipes I3, I4 and I5, to which are connected various spraying 'devices disclosed respectively in Figs. 4, 3, and 2.

As the wax in the system, including the tank I, at usual temperatures is a solid or semi-solid, it cannot =be pumped by the pumping unit 3 unless 5 its temperature is elevated. Accordingly, there is provided throughout the systema heating circuit which consists of a tube 20, through which is continuously circulated a hot oil or its equivalent. Oil has been found to be especially desirable as a 10 heat transferring medium for the reason that it will ,not freeze up in the tube during cold weather. Oil for circulating through the tube 20 is taken from a storage drum 2| by means of a tubular connection 22 which connects the drum 2l to a pumping unit 23. The pumping unit 23 consists of a strainer 24, a pump 25 and a constant pressure valve 26. A tube 21 connects the constant pressure valve 26 with the inlet side of the pump 25. A connecting tube 28 connects the 2,0 pumping unit 23 with the heating unit 29, which consists of a strainer 30 and a heating device 3l. The heating device 3| is preferably electrical, although any other type of heater may be used. The tube zo is connected to the outlet of the 25 heating unit 29.

The tube 20 is arranged in a continuously closed circuit contiguous to the various wax conducting pipes, strainers, pumps, valves, et'c., and then is formed into a coil 32 disposed in the storage tank 30 I. From the coil 32 the tube 20 returns'to the inlet side of the pumping unit 23.

In order to b e sure that some of the heat transferring oil from the tube 20 passes through the storage-tank before it loses the major portion of 35 its heat, a constant pressure valve 33 is provided, which is connected between the portion of the tube 20 adjacent the outlet of the heating unit 29 andthe portion of the tube 20 about to enter the storage tank I. Thus, a portion of the oil coming from the heating unit 29 is by-passed through the valve 33 directly to the heating coil 32 in the storage tank I, while the remainder of the oil from the heating unit 29 passes through the main heating circuit. The constant pressure valve 33 45 should be set at a. pressure somewhat Ibelow that delivered from the heating unit 29.

It should be observed that while the drawings are diagrammatic, the heating tube 20 is in contacting relation with the various portions of the wax conducting pipe line I2, as well as the pumping unit 3 and the heating unit 9. It will be understood that the purpose of the tube circuit 20 is not only to raise the temperature of the entire system before the actual pumping of wax from- 5" which the wax from the storage tank I is applied to the coal. This feature of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. All pipes, tubes and parts carrying wax are covered with a heat insulating material 84.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the reference character 48 indicates a continuous belt conveyor which is discharging coal onto the chute 4|. Disposed over the end of the conveyor 48 and the chute 4| is a spraying hood 42'. The spraying hood 42 may be of any conventional or usual construction, is insulated, and consists of a top portion 48, a front portion 44 and a rear portion 48, together with side portions 48, which extend downwardly to the level of the coal. Depending from the front portion 44 and the rear portion 48 are skirts 41 for the purpose of enclosing the space over which the hood 42 is disposed and preventing the escape of dustproong spray. Projecting forwardly and rearwardly from the hood 42 are insulated extension hoods 48 and 48, respectively. The extension hoods 48 and 48 each have depending skirts 88 similarto and for the same purpose as the depending skirts 41 of the hood 42. The extension hoods 48 and 48 provide an additional sealing-against escape of coal treating spray from the hood 42'.

As disclosed in the drawings, the coal drops from the chute 4| into a car 88. At the top of the hood 42 is provided a spraying nomle 88 which communicates with the pipe I8, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. Mounted on the hood 42 about the portion thereof, through which the nozzle 58 projects, is aheat insulated box 81 for the purpose of permitting access to the nozzle 88 for inspection and the like.

Disposed within the hood 42 is a tubular heating coil 88, which is within the' circuit provided by the tube 28 disclosed particularly in Fig. 1. Oil circulating through the tube 28 circulates through the heating coil 88 and thereby elevates the temperature within thehood 42 to prevent the material being sprayed through the nozzle 88 from solidifying or congealing before it strikes the coal passing beneath the hood. The heating coil 88 is disposed at one side of the spray being directed from the nozzle 88, but may be disposed at both sides thereof if desired,

Beneath the chute 4| is provided a heat insulated enclosure 8|, within which is disposed a tubular heating coil 82. 'I'he heating coil 82 is in communication with and in the circuit of the tube 28 and is for the purpose of heating the chute 4| as the coal passes over it to prevent the dustproofing material being sprayed on the coal from solidifying or congealing on the chute 4|.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is disclosed a heat insulated spraying hood 88 having a top 88, a front 81 and a rear 88, together with side portions 88. Depending from the front 81 and the rear 88 are skirts 18 similar to the skirts 41 in Fig. 2. The hood 85 is also provided with extension hoods 18 and 1|, each of which is provided with a depending skirt 12, the object and function of the extension hoods 18 and 1| being the same as the object and function of the extension hoods 48 and 48 disclosed in Fig. 2.

The hood 88 is disposed over an endless conveyor 18,' on which coal is being carried. A nozzle 14 projecting into the hood 88 communicates with the pipe I4. which in turn communicates with the main supply pipe I2. Disposed over the top of the hood about the portion thereof through which the nozzle 14 projects is a heat insulated box 18 for permitting access to the nozzle 14, Within the hood 88 is a Itubular heating coil 18, which is disposed at one side of the spray from the nozzle 14 but may be disposed at both sides thereof. The heating'coil 18 communicates with the tube 28, as disclosed in Fig. 1, and elevates the temperature of the interior of the hood 8l.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, there is disclosed the application of the present invention to an inclined tubular chute 88. Formed in the chute 88 is a spraying hood 8| having an inlet end 82 and an outlet end 88, and sides 84 which comprise portions of the tubular chute 88. Depending from the ends 82 and 88 are skirts 85. The hood 8| is also provided with an extension hood 88 in the chute 88, which is provided with a skirt 88. The extension hood 88 and the skirt 85 are for the purpose of preventing the escape of the spraying material from beneath the hood 8 I'.

Through the top of the hood 8| project two spraying nozzles 88 communicating with the pipe I8, which also communicates with the main supply pipe l2. Disposed about the nozzles 88 and against the top of the spraying hood 8| is a heat insulated box 88 having an opening for permitting access to the nozzles 88. Disposed within the box 88 is a tubular heating coil 8|, which is in circuit with the tube 28 for the purpose of heating the interior of the chamber 88 to maintain the nozzles at an elevated temperature. It will be observed that the'opening in the top of the hood 8 through which the nozzles 88 project, is sufficiently large to permit the escape of heat into the hood 8| over the coal passing down the chute 88.

Beneath the chute 88 is disposed a heat insulated enclosure 82 similar to the enclosure 8| disclosed in Fig. 2 and for the same purpose, that is,

.the heating of the underside of the chute for preventing the adhesion of dustproong material. Disposed within the enclosure 82 is a ,tubular heating coil 83 in circuit with the tube 28. It will be noted that rods 84 project upwardly through the coal in the chute 88 for the purpose of breaking up the coal as it slides thereover and obtaining a better coverage by the spraying material.

The spraying arrangement disclosed particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are merely examples of spraying arrangements that may be incorporated in my system. i It will be understood, of course, that my system may include al1 of the arrangements shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, particularly as disclosed in Fig. 1 or any one of them, or can include additional arrangements if desired. In the use of the invention with the hot oil tube circuit 28 continuously connected to the storage tank 2| through the connecting tubing 22, any make-up oil that may be needed for the heating system will be automatically-supplied from Awill automatically back up into the storage tank v 2|. It should also be understood that the pumping and heating units disclosed in Fig. 1 are merely examples and that some other units may be used if desired. It should also be understood that the dustproofing material may be other than wax, as, for instance, a highly viscous oil prising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, a pump, heating means, a device for spraying said material, a fluid connection between said source and said pump, uid connections between said pump, heating means and spraying device, a closed fluid circuit paralleling and in juxtaposed relation to said pumping system and iirst connection in heat exchanging relation thereto, heat insulation jacketing said system and circuit, and means to circulate a hot fluid through said circuit to heat said pumping system.

2. A device of the character described comprising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, a pump, heating means, a device for spraying said material, a iiuidk connection between said source and said pump, iiuid connections between said pump, heating means and spraying device, a closed fluid circuit paralleling and in juxtaposed relation to said pumping system and iirst connection in heat exchanging relation thereto, means to circulate a hot fluid through said circuit to heat said pumping system, said last means including a second pump and heating means in said circuit, and means for automatically replenishing the fluid in said circuit.

3. A device of the character described comprising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, a pump, heating means, a device for spraying said material, a fluid connection between said source and said pump, uid connections between said pump. heating means, and spraying device, a closed iuid circuit paralleling and in juxtaposed relation to said pumping system and first connection in heat exchanging relation thereto, a casing having a passageway therethrough, said spraying device being within said casing for spraying a material moving through said passageway, tubing within said casing, said tubing being included in said circuit, and means to circulate a hot fluid through said circuit to heat said pumping system, and the interior of said casing.

4. A device of the character described comprising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, a pump, heating means, a device for spraying said material, a iiuid connection between said source and said pump, fluid connections between said pump, heating means, and spraying device, a closed fluid circuit paralleling and in juxtaposed relation to said pumping system and rst connection in heat exchanging relation thereto, tubing within said means to circulate a hot iluid through said circuit to heat said pumping system and said source of viscous material.

5. A device of the character described comprising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, a pump, heating means, a device for spraying said material, a fluid connection between said source and said pump, fluid connections between said pump, heating means, and spraying device, a closed fluid circuit paralieling and in juxtaposed relation to said pumping system and first connection in heat exchanging relation thereto, tubing within said source, said tubing being within said circuit, means to circulate a hot uid through said circuit to heat said pumping system and said source of viscous material, said tubing in said source being in that portion of said circuit past said spraying device, and means to by-pass a portion of said hot fluid to form a secondary circuit through said tubing and circulating means.

6. A device of the character described comprising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, a pump, heating means, a device for spraying said material, a iluid connection between said source and said pump, fluid connections between said pump, heating means, spraying device and. first named connection to provide a closed fluid circuit, a second closed fluid circuit paralleling and in juxtaposed relation to said rst circuit and iirst connection in heat exchanging relation thereto, tubing within said source, said tubing being within said secondcircuit, means to circulate a hot fluid through said second circuit to heat said first circuit and said source o1 viscous material, said tubing in said source being in that portion of said second circuit past said spraying device, means to by-pass a portion of said hot iluid to form a secondary second circuit through said tubing and circulating means, and means for automatically replenishing the fluid in said circuit and said secondary circuit.

7. A device of the character described comprising a source of viscous material, too solid to be pumped atbrdinary temperatures, a device for spraying said materia1,a pipe system including a pump connecting said source and said spraying device, a closed uid circuit paralleling and in juxtaposed relation to said pipe -system in heat exchanging relation thereto, heat insulation jacketing said system and circuit, and means to circulate a hot fluid through said circuit to heat said system.

JOHN A. ERICKSON. 

